Analytic Geometry Q10

**looi76** · March 4th 2009, 12:08 AM

Question:
Find the equation of the bisector of the pair of acute angles formed by the lines $L_1$ and $L_2$ given by $4x-2y-10=0$ and $x-2y-1=0$ , respectively.

Attempt:

$L_1 \rightarrow 4x - 2y - 15 = 0$
$A = 4, \ B = -2, \ C=-15$

$d_1 = \frac{Ax+By+C}{\pm\sqrt{A^2+B^2}} = \frac{4x-2y-15}{-\sqrt{4^2+2^2}} = \frac{4x-2y-15}{-2\sqrt{5}}$

$L_2 \rightarrow x - 2y - 1$
$A = 1, \ B = -2, \ C=-1$

$d_2 = \frac{Ax+By+C}{\pm\sqrt{A^2+B^2}} = \frac{x-2y-1}{-\sqrt{1^2+2^2}} = \frac{x-2y-1}{-\sqrt{5}}$

Now, I need to simplify the two distance equations to get the equation of the bisector...

$\frac{4x-2y-15}{-2\sqrt{5}} = \frac{x-2y-1}{-\sqrt{5}}$

Here is the problem! I don't know how to simplify with the square roots around

, Need Help!

**earboth** · March 4th 2009, 12:45 AM

Originally Posted by looi76

[FONT="Georgia"][SIZE="3"]Question:
Find the equation of the bisector of the pair of acute angles formed by the lines $L_1$ and $L_2$ given by $4x-2y-10=0$ and $x-2y-1=0$ , respectively.

...

1. Both equations are given in normal form. The normal vectors are :

$\overrightarrow{n_1} = (4, -2)$ . Therefore the direction vector of the first line is $\vec u = (2, 4)$ with $|\overrightarrow{u}| = \sqrt{20}$

and

$\overrightarrow{n_2} = (1, -2)$ . Therefore the direction vector of the second line is $\vec v = (2,1)$ with $|\overrightarrow{v}| = \sqrt{5}$

2. The point of intersection is $P(3,1)$ . Therefore the angle bisector has to pass through this point too.

3. The direction of the angle bisector is the sum of the unit vectors of the two direction vectors:

$\vec b = \dfrac1{\sqrt{20}} (1,4) + \dfrac1{\sqrt{5}} (2,1) = \dfrac1{\sqrt{20}} (2,4) + \dfrac1{\sqrt{20}} (4,2) = \dfrac1{\sqrt{20}} (6, 6)$

Remark: $\dfrac1{\sqrt{20}} = \dfrac1{\sqrt{5} } \cdot \dfrac1{\sqrt{4}}$

The second angle bisector is perpendicular to the first one thus it has the direction $\overrightarrow{b_{\perp}} = \dfrac1{\sqrt{20}} (6, -6)$

4. You can simplify those direction vectors to $\vec b = (1,1)$ and $\overrightarrow{b_{\perp}} = (1,-1)$

5. Now use the point direction form of the equation of a line to determine the equations of the two angle bisectors.

EDIT: I've attached a sketch of the two lines and the two angle bisectors

**looi76** · March 4th 2009, 12:46 AM

Originally Posted by looi76

Question:
Find the equation of the bisector of the pair of acute angles formed by the lines $L_1$ and $L_2$ given by $4x-2y-10=0$ and $x-2y-1=0$ , respectively.

Another question! Does it make any difference if the pair formed an acute angle or obtuse angle?

**earboth** · March 4th 2009, 12:55 AM

Originally Posted by looi76

Another question! Does it make any difference if the pair formed an acute angle or obtuse angle?

No because two lines form two angles: one acute and one obtuse. With one exception: If the lines are perpendicular then the two angles are equal.

**earboth** · March 4th 2009, 04:05 AM

Originally Posted by looi76

...
Now, I need to simplify the two distance equations to get the equation of the bisector...

$\frac{4x-2y-15}{-2\sqrt{5}} = \frac{x-2y-1}{-\sqrt{5}}$

...

I played a little bit with your equation and much to my surprise found out that this is a very effective way to calculate the equations of the angle bisectors:

$\frac{4x-2y-15}{-2\sqrt{5}} = \frac{x-2y-1}{-\sqrt{5}}$ Multiply by $-\sqrt{20}$

$4x-2y-10 = 2(x-2y-1)~\implies~y = -x+4$

$\frac{4x-2y-10}{-2\sqrt{5}} = \frac{x-2y-1}{+\sqrt{5}}$ Multiply by $-\sqrt{20}$

$4x-2y-10 = -2x+4y+2~\implies~y = x-2$

Thanks for this shortcut.

Thread: Analytic Geometry Q10

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Display

Analytic Geometry Q10

Similar Math Help Forum Discussions

Analytic Geometry Q7

Analytic Geometry Q6

Analytic Geometry Q5

Analytic Geometry Q2

Analytic Geometry Help!

Search Tags